The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-06-09
No. s..
THE ENCOUNTERS AT T1oPAR.

a
Tardy Proesedings In the Matter Of the
Killing Of Captain Crawford.
Mr.. Mariscal's letter to the United
States legation In Mexico on the killing
Of Captain Emmet Crawford, Of the
Fourth Cavalry, may contain all that the
Mexican government has to say on the
subject, but It cannot be said to furnish
satisfactory explanation.
The communication IL tardy, consider
ing the gravity Of the charge with which
It IL concerned. Crawford was killed
more than sixteen months ago, on the
18th Of January, 1885, in the foothills
which run down to the Haros river. The
Mexican government began its investi-
CATION fourteen months ago, yet only
now is the result made known, although
In the meantime Crawford's second in
command, Lieutenant NJ. p. Maus, first
infantry, has oAicially reported that
"Crawford was assassinated," !" while Sec-
rotary Endicott has also construed the
evidence ~ indicating foul play on
the part of the Mexicans. It appeared,
however, from Mr.. Endicott's last an
nusl report that he had some time before
disposed Of the subject by turning It
over to the State Department, whose
inquiries have now elected this response.
The main difficulty with Mr.. Maris-
calls communication 10 that It sheds NO
new light on the only points about which
there was any mystery. The original
encounter was no doubt the result of .
mistake Geronimo and his band had
passed through the region, and had prob
ably helped themselves to horses, mules,
and whatever property they could get at
A force Of citizens of Chihuahua pursued
them, In order to recover this property,
and perhaps also with view to earn
ing the money reward offered by the
authorities for every Indian killed on the
warpath. Il II probable that since Craw-
f0rd's party consisted Of about eighty
Indian scouts and only i've or six white
men, and the former were also Apaches,
Il was mistaken at first for Geronimo's
band. Crswford's command had been
following the trails of the hostiles be-
tween Nacori and the rough hills around
the Haros and Bavispe rivers, and were
mot far distant from the fugftives when
the sudden attack Of the Mexicans oc-
CURED.
What was not explained ct that time,
and is not explained now, Il the failure
Of the Mexicans to cease firing after
the American officers called out to
them. These officers had already exposed
themselves in full view, and ct short
range, crying out who they were, before
Crawford was killed. Mr.. Msriscal's
communication says that the Americans
wore no uniforms or insignia of any
character whatever. This q . question
Of fsct, and the statement thus made II
denied f. oascla reports BY Lieut.. M.us,
Lieut.. ". =. shipp, Tenth Cavalry, MI;
steward. d. who were III eIu present. ss o;ES1 fSev
all declare that Crawford wore his
also In uniform; that Shipp wore
and that the hospital steward had the
uniform Of his grade. Probably these
garments were not specially fresh, and
Tie oGlceFs may not have been very pallid
After season's campaigning IN that lati-
tude. Had the excuse offered been that
they we're thought TO b outlaws In stolsn
unifoyHs, Il might b. moro Comprehend.
be. But when it d denied that there
were any uniforms visible, We have the
exactly contrary testimony Of al our
o0lcers. Tia evidence alSo y that the
advance party Of Nsxicans to whom M.
Horn called 81 Spanish was hardly thirty
rods distant from him and from Lieutsn-
ant 6hipp, who stord BY. From these
two Crawford and 1aus were not twenty
yards away, yet during the parley either
this party of moro distant one Of Nexi-
cans opened hre. MORALLY wound'ng
Crawford and shooting Horn through
the arm.
whether at this late day any further
satisfaction can he expected than the
meagre one contained n Mr.. Nariscars
communication remains to bo seen. The
Mexican government, which had aided
CrANford In his campaign, end Whose
sseular forces were not concsrnsd in ths
tlE9lay. A. course sincerely regrets The
Nv ~ ~ Comrades ~ Crawford
Jll1 ~ = belieEe thAt thsep Ma